A "Cardio" Day Off...

Yesterday, I took the day off from any cardio work...no running or cycling...I really needed the rest. The weekend brought about the opportunity to complete 2 days of back-to-back high intensity training. On Saturday I completed a sprint duathlon simulation with a tough 2 mile run followed by a quick 13 mile bike ride. I came off the bike and did a 1 mile cool down run at a 9 min/mile pace. Of course the weather was bad so I had to do the simulation inside. I layed down a 14:43 2 mile run and a 33:30 13 mile bike....not bad for this early in the season. On Sunday I did a zone 2/3 run of 4 miles and then bricked into a fairly hard 40 minute bike ride. Yesterday, I took the opportunity to rest my somewhat sore and stiff left hip and focused on strength training. I worked major upper body groups and finished with an intense abs/core session.

What a careful balance this is....to make sure I am hitting my workouts appropiately...with the right intensity, volume, and frequency...all while protecting the hip. Some days it's difficult to realize that I have to just take what my hip will give me. My cardio wants to go more, go harder, go "for broke"...but the hip says "enough of this torture." No complaints here....I'll take what I can get!

I'm looking forward to a great training session today. The plan is to complete a 4 mile fartlek run and then ease my way into a 30 minute ride. I'll let the ride remain all aerobic today and just spin and log miles and time in the saddle. Tomorrow, I'll look for a very tough bike workout...complete with high intensity intervals lasting 2-3 minutes in length.

Ok folks...work hard with me today...or at the least, take what you can get from that body of yours!

TJ

A Bit About Me....

First, let me start by saying thanks for reading my blog. My goal is twofold...1) to share my progress toward my personal goals with those that care about me, and 2) to provide (hopefully) motivation to athletes that are dealing with injury, recovery, rehab, and perhaps, a physical disadvantage/limitation.

So...let me tell you a little about me. I'm 43 years old, work full-time, train for endurance/multisport events in my spare time, and deal with the chronic pain effects of multiple re-constructive surgeries on my left hip. In fact, I've had 4 major surgeries on the hip since my late teens....the last 2 of which were for the purpose of doing a total hip replacement. Yes, I had a total hip replacement (THR) at the age of 21 and managed to make it last 18 years before wearing it out. I had a 2nd THR in the Fall of 2006.

I've been athletic all my life...playing baseball and football as my primary sports of interest all through high school. My hip injury cut my "sports career" short...with all formal/organized athletics ending for me upon high school graduation. I spent many years continuing to work on being fit, healthy, and remaining athletic. My first THR was suppose to be the end of my rigorous physical activities. I begged to differ! My belief has always been to live life to the fullest and not settle for "good enough." To that end, I've worked hard to maintain health and cardio fitness, and to begin competing again. I embarked on a recovery and training program for endurance multi-sports following my 2nd hip replacement. My goal is to stay in great physical shape, especially for my age, to overcome my physical limitation with my left hip, and to train with a goal of being highly competitive in my age group for all of the multi-sport events that I compete in.

So...what exactly is my "limitation?" To be honest, I have a hard time talking about it that way. I have a fundamental belief that one should not accept any form of pitty. I've been dealt a hand of cards to play...and I'll play them to the best of my ability. I love the challenge....and more importantly...I love winning against athletes that don't deal with the problem I have. My left hip creates a good amount of chronic pain. It has limited mobility in terms of flexibility. In fact, I have just enough flexibility to walk, run, and ride a bike. The musculature in my left leg is not as strong as my right leg...though I work every day to strengthen those muscles. I have good days and not so good days....but any day I can train is a good day!

That's it for now...I'll provide more details with respect to my hip condition, my training, and my events in the coming days. So.....keep checking in.....come along with me....let's just see who wins!!!